Method and apparatus to enable use of motion to associate devices

• US 8,897,704 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kahn, Philippe Richard, Kinsolving, Arthur, Vogel, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US13/047,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/41.1, 455/425, 455/502, 455/13.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus to provide easier pairing based on motion data is described. The method of associating two devices comprises receiving a signal to enter into pairing mode, and detecting a motion indicating a pairing. The method further comprises establishing a secure connection with another device for pairing, the secure connection established based on the motion, and exchanging data.

Claims

1. A method of associating two devices to exchange data, comprising with one device:

receiving a signal to enter into pairing mode;

generating a key based on acceleration data, the acceleration data used to calculate a differential motion pattern performed by the device, the differential motion pattern enabling holding of the device at any angle;

establishing a secure connection with an other device, the secure connection established based on the key generated in part based on the motion pattern, the secure connection established when the device and the other device devices generate the same key based on the same motion pattern; and

exchanging data with the other device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to enter into pairing mode comprises receiving indication through a user interface that a pairing is about to be initiated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating a pairing comprises a signal identifying a target device for pairing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion indicating a pairing comprises any motion performed simultaneously with the two devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion indicating a pairing comprises a unique motion signature to initiate the pairing mode, wherein the motion signature further comprises the signal received to initiate the pairing mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the key is generated in response to receiving the signal to enter into the pairing mode by two or more devices, the key generated based on the motion data, the key used for the secure connection.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the motion data to a server, the server to generate the key based on the motion data, for a device with limited processing capability.

8. A method of associating two devices to enable an exchange of data, comprising:

instructing a user to hold the two devices together and perform a motion with the two devices together;

calculating a differential motion data based on the motion, the differential motion data enabling comparison of motions between two devices held at different angles; and

associating the devices based on the differential motion data, to enable the devices to exchange data through a secure connection, the connection secured based on identical keys generated by each of the two devices based on the differential motion data, generated when the two devices were moved together.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using a motion signature derived from the motion to identify the devices to be paired.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing a secure connection for the pairing, the secure connection established based on the motion.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a target device based on the motion;

performing a handshake with the device;

synchronizing clocks of the two devices based on the handshake data; and

using the motion data and associated clock data to pair the two devices.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a motion sensor to detect movement;

a pairing logic to enable data exchange with another device, the pairing logic comprising;

a motion identifier to use data from the motion sensor to generate differential motion pattern, the differential motion pattern used for pairing with another device;

a key generation logic to generate a key based on the differential motion pattern performed by the mobile device;

a secure connection logic to establish a secure connection with the other device, the secure connection established when the key matches a key generated in the other device, indicating that the devices performed an identical differential motion pattern; and

data exchange logic to exchange data with the other device over the secure connection.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the pairing logic further comprises a user interface element to receive a signal to enter into pairing mode.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the motion identifier is further to identify a motion pattern indicating pairing.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the pairing logic further comprises a discovery logic to send or receive a signal to enter the mobile device into pairing mode.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the signal to enter into pairing mode comprises a discovery signal identifying a target device for pairing.

17. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the pairing logic further comprises a motion identifier to receive a motion indicating a pairing, the motion being any motion performed simultaneously with a plurality of devices.

18. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the pairing logic further comprises a motion identifier to identify a unique motion signature to initiate the pairing mode, wherein the unique motion signature is used by the target device identification logic to initiate the pairing mode.

19. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the data exchange logic exchanges information between the mobile device and the other device.

20. The mobile device of claim 12, further comprising:

a connector to connect to a server, the server providing data regarding the other device, to enable the pairing of the mobile device and the other device.